Senior Engineering Manager, Ad Performance Recommendation

We are seeking a Senior Engineering Manager to join our 200+ product development organization and lead our Ad Performance Recommendation team. The team is responsible for developing an innovative AI-powered system that leverages marketing ad tech data and various data sources to identify performance signals and generate actionable recommendations for digital advertisers and marketers. As part of the AI Platform organization, you will lead a multidisciplinary team of Data Scientists, ML Engineers, and Software Engineers working to accelerate AI adoption and development across Smartly’s Media, Creative, and Intelligence suite. The team ensures compliance with privacy, security, and ethical guidelines. This is an opportunity to define the vision and strategy for ML and Data Science applications, drive execution on ambitious goals, and champion AI and ML excellence throughout Smartly.

Responsibilities

Lead and grow the Ad Performance Recommendation team, providing technical direction, strategic vision, and hands-on leadership; Drive the development of AdTech-specific ML models foundational AI capabilities and explore novel approaches that can be applied across Smartly’s products; Optimize existing models for performance, efficiency, and scalability; Collaborate cross-functionally with other teams to ensure AI-driven features deliver measurable business and customer impact; Ensure compliance with privacy, security, and ethical AI standards in ML applications; Foster a strong engineering culture focused on innovation, quality, and continuous improvement; Mentor team members through coaching, 1:1s, and career development plans; Remove obstacles to enable your team to thrive and deliver exceptional results; Partner with recruiting to help scale the team by actively sourcing and closing the best talent; Partner with other leaders in the AI Platform to shape Smartly’s long-term AI strategy and architecture

Requirements

7+ years of experience in building services and products; 5+ years of experience in applying machine learning to real-life problems; 3+ years of experience in leading teams; Competent with key technologies in ML; PyTorch, TensorFlow, Python, SQL; Able to mentor, coach, and develop data scientists and machine learning engineers; Proven experience in delivering scalable ML systems in production; A pragmatic mindset; Curiosity and the drive to continuously learn through study and experimentation on the job; Ability to drive both technical excellence and cross-functional collaboration; Understanding of security and compliance requirements when working with personal data; M.Sc. or Ph.D. in a relevant field (Mathematics, CS, AI, Physics, …); Excellent communication skills, written and spoken English; Ability to work 3 days / week at our office

Benefits

Make a significant impact on our products with autonomy and ownership; Collaborate with leading online marketers and platforms like Meta, Pinterest, Snap, TikTok, and Google; Access opportunities for growth through mentorship, training, and resources to enhance your skills; Prioritize your health with comprehensive healthcare packages and mental health services, plus a healthy work-life balance; Equity options program and performance-based grants; Flexible hybrid work model with option to work abroad for up to 30 days